Purchase up to 150,000 points per annum

[Hvr]

Just got the email advising that you can now purchase up to 150,000 miles per annum. This is up from the recent level of 125,000 points.

The current offer is buy 150,000 points and get a bonus 115,000 points for US$4786.88 including all taxes which on current XE rates is A$6661.55.

Seems to me that there are a few too many sales at the moment with maybe a hint of desperation.

 

[diningdecadence]

agreed - but if you have a close in booking and can see availability it would be worthwhile at current rates.

 

[earlyriser]

Have two potential trips coming up in the second half of next year. Misses hates economy. Very tempting.

 

[Oxy]

The current offer is buy 150,000 points and get a bonus 1115,000 points

This would be their best offer yet

 

[RooFlyer]

Last July I did an analysis of the A$ attractiveness, based on OMAAT's estimation of the US$ cost. See here for his latest effort.

My earlier analysis:



I can't find the spread sheet to update it but if the miles cost US$0.0181 (and that's with the maximum purchase), here is the A$ situation today:

[TABLE="width: 192"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 93, bgcolor: transparent"]A$/US$
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 98, bgcolor: transparent"]Usc/mile
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent"]Ac/mile
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]1.39353
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]1.81
[/TD]
[TD="class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent"]2.522289
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


So its the best value this year but nothing like the 'good old days' when the US$/A$ was at or close to parity (or better). And you also have to consider the coming devaluation of AAmiles. You have to buy more to get the same travel, so in respect of (say) getting enough miles for EY F apartment SYD-AUH, the value has probably gone down.

 

[Limewood]

While the value has gone down and even more soon, if and I say if J/F OneWorld award flights can be found then buying with miles is still 1/3 or 1/2 the cost of normal paid fares, yet the yanks still complain and they have no exchange rate to worry about buying miles like we here in OZ do.

 

[anat0l]

Long story short - if you can burn that much before the devaluation, go for it. That's pretty good value that we've ever seen, however suffice to say it's not as good or better than the US days because US allowed you to have one stopover with somewhat cheaper prices on most redemptions.

It is a lot of money, however. The weak AUD is not helping things at all.

Also some of us have already purchased some miles this year, so we can't even take advantage of the full offer even if we wanted to.

Reward seats are thinning out considerably ex-AU as well, including on EY F (for Apartments anyway). For travel between AU and Nth America, CX via AS is probably a better bet, even if the miles are more expensive than this sale and it does overall confine the carrier choice.

 

[RooFlyer]

Long story short - if you can burn that much before the devaluation, go for it. That's pretty good value that we've ever seen, however suffice to say it's not as good or better than the US days because US allowed you to have one stopover with somewhat cheaper prices on most redemptions.

It is a lot of money, however. The weak AUD is not helping things at all.

Also some of us have already purchased some miles this year, so we can't even take advantage of the full offer even if we wanted to.

<snip>

It may or may not be a "lot" of money (depending on your budget and how much you buy), but as limewood points out, it's still a lot less than you'd pay for the revenue fare.

Also, the current sale extends to 4th January, so no matter how much one has bought this year, you can buy the max amount again from 1st January to 4th January, US time.

I'll probably buy about 50,000 miles, just to top up my account to 120,000, ready for anything useful that comes up and leaving the option for further buys if the value gets better.

 

[Longrass]

It may or may not be a "lot" of money (depending on your budget and how much you buy), but as limewood points out, it's still a lot less than you'd pay for the revenue fare.

Also, the current sale extends to 4th January, so no matter how much one has bought this year, you can buy the max amount again from 1st January to 4th January, US time.

I'll probably buy about 50,000 miles, just to top up my account to 120,000, ready for anything useful that comes up and leaving the option for further buys if the value gets better.

I dunno, one could say that 3x one way AUS-EURO in QF F @ $2200 each way plus taxes is extremely good buying...

 

[Duffa]

Sure, the options are running out. The ATO friends are falling by the wayside, one by one.
But I'd have to be REALLY desperate to consider buying points from overseas.
My average point cost is 0.47c across all my cards/spend. Way cheaper than AA or Delta.

And after all is said and done, I can still get to Europe rtn, in J, for about $108.

D

 

[diningdecadence]

And after all is said and done, I can still get to Europe rtn, in J, for about $108.

i'll bite - hint please?

 

[Duffa]

i'll bite - hint please?

Pay deductible expenses at less than 1% penalty, 45 days interest free, Mrs D pays tax on the interest and choose a carrier with low YQ like EY through Velocity.

 

[diningdecadence]

Pay deductible expenses at less than 1% penalty, 45 days interest free, Mrs D pays tax on the interest and choose a carrier with low YQ like EY through Velocity.

are you sure you meant $108 return then? or $1080?

 

[Franky]

Good afternoon Roo - with the very recent further points sale from AA, are you able to help us with an update on your previous analysis, which I found very helpful then. We have some bookings in mind, and bought 160K each at that time, probably another 50K each or so would cover any possibility we are likely to encounter trying to fit flights to desires.

Thanks in anticipation - Franky

 

[Croupier]

Did anyone take advantage of the latest promo of 10% off and 42500 bonus miles?

 

[Franky]

Did anyone take advantage of the latest promo of 10% off and 42500 bonus miles?

I need a few more points, but will have to make the decision soon, despite the fact that we have about half a days grace over this side of the world, and our continent.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Did anyone take advantage of the latest promo of 10% off and 42500 bonus miles?

Yes, I'm holding an Award booking and needed a top up to complete the booking.

 

[Croupier]

I bit and went for 100k + 42500 - 10%
Worked out a little over $4000 AUD
And with the 18k points in my account already looking to score an F return to EU before the imminent devaluation.
I'm currently in Frankfurt on my first F award trip and loving it.

 

[Franky]

Enjoy - just need to do some sums and will then make a bid.

 

[Franky]

Yes, I'm holding an Award booking and needed a top up to complete the booking.

Have just checked the offer again, and though it is good thru to 01MAR16, however the 10% discount expires on 08FEB, which I mis-read believing it was 09FEB. May already be too late for that.